Nancy Kerrigan was a successful figure skating competitor in the 1990s and earned two Olympic medals in her career.  In 1994, Kerrigan was on the rise and poised to make a substantial run for the gold medal in the 1994 U.S. championships when she became victim to one of the most infamous moments in figure skating history.

On this day, January 6th, in 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked with a metal police baton after practicing for the U.S. championships in Detroit. The attack was orchestrated by Kerrigan’s rival, Tonya Harding, who ordered her ex-husband and body guard to carry out the attack.  Although the attack was suppose to break Kerrigan’s knee, it was only bruised, but the injury still resulted in her withdrawal from the national championships.

The scandal surrounding Harding’s malicious act dominated news coverage around the world for several weeks after the incident.  Harding was eventually forced to except a plea bargain, which banned her from the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships as well as removal form the US Figure Skating Association.  Kerrigan recovered from the attack and one a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.